PEOPLE who want to help promote the healthy benefits of walking in York are being invited to put their best foot forward.

City of York Council's sport and leisure department is looking for volunteers to lead groups of people on a series of strolls around the city as part of the authority's role in the national Walking Your Way To Health initiative.

The scheme was launched more than five years ago by Natural England and the British Heart Foundation (BHF), and has seen eight routes set up around York which aim to encourage people who take little exercise to take regular walks. All the walks are free and suitable for all ages, with some being capable of accommodating pushchairs and wheelchairs, and potential volunteers can find out more about them and receive full training when a course is held at Oaklands Sports Centre on Wednesday, from 9.30am to 4pm.

The walks last between 30 minutes and two hours and can take place at times and places to suit volunteers. More information is available by phoning Laura on 01904 553388 or 07920 701887, or by logging on to www.york.gov.uk and looking at the "walking" page in the leisure and culture section.